B-114361, APRIL 6, 1953, 32 COMP. GEN. 432

B-114361, APRIL 6, 1953, 32 COMP. GEN. 432

TELEPHONES - LONG DISTANCE CALLS - OFFICIAL CALLS MADE AT PERSONAL EXPENSE - EVIDENCE REQUIREMENT FOR PAYMENTS INASMUCH AS THE ORIGINAL ITEMIZED STATEMENT OF CHARGES FOR LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE CALLS MADE BY AN EMPLOYEE OVER HIS HOME TELEPHONE WHICH WAS FILED IN DUPLICATE AND PROPERLY CERTIFIED AS OFFICIAL BUSINESS WAS LOST IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY, DUPLICATE BILLS OF THE TELEPHONE COMPANY ACCOMPANIED BY A LETTER INDICATING HOW MUCH OF EACH BILL REPRESENTS LONG DISTANCE TOLL CHARGES MAY BE ACCEPTED AS THE BEST EVIDENCE OBTAINABLE.

COMPTROLLER GENERAL WARREN TO S. P. SULLIVAN, ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION, APRIL 6, 1953:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF MARCH 16, 1953, FILE REFERENCE FD:SPS, TRANSMITTING A VOUCHER, WITH SUPPORTING PAPERS, IN FAVOR OF THOMAS P. ANDERSON, MARYSVALE, UTAH, IN THE AMOUNT OF $64.85, REPRESENTING REIMBURSEMENT OF LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE TOLL EXPENDITURES FOR THE PERIOD DECEMBER 29, 1950, TO APRIL 18, 1951, AND REQUESTING AN ADVANCE DECISION AS TO WHETHER THE VOUCHER PROPERLY MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.

IT IS STATED IN YOUR LETTER THAT MR. ANDERSON WAS EMPLOYED BY THE ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION AS A GEOLOGIST WITH PERMANENT DUTY STATION AT DENVER, COLORADO, AND WAS ASSIGNED FOR TEMPORARY DUTY AT MARYSVALE, UTAH, FROM DECEMBER 1950, TO MAY 5, 1952. ON DECEMBER 11, 1950, FOLLOWING THE RECEIPT OF VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS FROM HIS IMMEDIATE SUPERIOR, HE HAD A TELEPHONE INSTALLED IN HIS RESIDENCE AT THE TEMPORARY DUTY STATION. WAS REMOVED FROM HIS RESIDENCE ON APRIL 15, 1951, AND INSTALLED IN A FIELD OFFICE WHICH THE ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION HAD OPENED IN MARYSVALE, UTAH.

IT APPEARS THAT MR. ANDERSON ORIGINALLY SUBMITTED A CLAIM IN THE AMOUNT OF $84.64, WHICH, IN ADDITION TO THE AMOUNT REPRESENTED IN THE VOUCHER HEREIN CONSIDERED, INCLUDED THE INSTALLATION AND LOCAL SERVICES FOR THE TELEPHONE IN HIS QUARTERS. HOWEVER, THE CLAIM WAS NOT PAID AND HE WAS ADVISED BY THE NEW YORK OFFICE OF THE ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION THAT REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TWO LATTER SERVICES WAS PROHIBITED BY THE STATUTORY PROVISIONS IN 31 U.S.C. 679. SEE, ALSO, 26 COMP. GEN. 668. THE ORIGINAL STATEMENT FOR CHARGES FOR TOLL SERVICES, IN DUPLICATE, WERE THEREAFTER RECEIVED IN YOUR OFFICE, PROPERLY CERTIFIED AS BEING OFFICIAL BUSINESS (18 COMP. GEN. 1017), AND SUBSEQUENTLY WERE LOST THROUGH NO FAULT OF THE EMPLOYEE. WHILE THE MOUNTAIN STATES TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY WAS UNABLE TO FURNISH YOU WITH ITEMIZED COPIES OF THE ORIGINAL BILLS, THEY DID FURNISH DUPLICATE COPIES OF THE BILLS PAID BY MR. ANDERSON AND ALSO A LETTER, DATED MARCH 16, 1952, INDICATING EXACTLY HOW MUCH OF EACH BILL REPRESENTED LONG DISTANCE TOLL CHARGES. YOUR DOUBT IN THE MATTER IS THAT THE VOUCHER FOR PAYMENT IS NOT ACCOMPANIED BY ORIGINAL INVOICES AS ORDINARILY REQUIRED BY THIS OFFICE.

IN VIEW OF THE REPORTED FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES, THE SAID DUPLICATE COPIES OF TELEPHONE BILLS AND LETTER OF MAY 16, 1952, FROM THE MOUNTAIN STATES TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY WILL BE ACCEPTED AND CONSIDERED AS THE BEST EVIDENCE OBTAINABLE FOR AUDIT PURPOSES IN LIEU OF THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS LOST.

THE VOUCHER AND ACCOMPANYING PAPERS ARE RETURNED HEREWITH AND YOU ARE ADVISED THAT THE VOUCHER MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT, IF OTHERWISE CORRECT. A CITATION TO THIS DECISION SHOULD BE ATTACHED TO THE VOUCHER.